Cultivator



Feb. 25, 1936.

T. J. ERDMAN 2,032,085

CULTIVATOR Filed March 24, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet l IVVENTOR .4 TTORNE VS.

Patented Feb. 25, 1936 GULTI'VATOR Theodore J. Erdman, Horicon, Wla, assignor to The Van Brunt Manufacturing Company, Horioon, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Application March 24, 1934, Serial No. 717,165

18 Claims. (Cl. 97-152) The present invention relates generally to agricultural implements and is more particularly concerned with the provision of a new and improved construction for field cultivators and the like whereby the implement may be operated so as to cultivate the ground up close to fences, trees, ditches and other obstacles. Particularly is it an object of the present invention to provide a field cultivator for such purposes and in which the ground wheels are set in from the ends of the machine so as to provide for the disposition of ground engaging tools laterally outside the supporting wheels, so that all of the ground up to fence lines, trees and other objects can be cultivated.

Another object of the present invention is an improved mounting for cultivator rigs wherein the rigs may be positioned diregtly in rear of the supporting wheels, whereby all of the ground may be cultivated.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art after a consideration of the following detailed description of the preferred construction, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings illustrating such construction.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a field cultivator embodying the principles of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a side view of the machine shown in Figure 1, looking toward the left hand end of the transversely disposed generally rectangular frame; and a Fig. 3 is a section taken approximately along the line 3-3 of Figure 1 and illustrating in particular the connection between the rig which is in rear of the left hand supporting wheel and the frame bars to which the forward end of such rig is connected.

Referring now more particularly to Figure 1, it will be seen that the frame of the implement, indicated in its entirety by the reference numeral I, is of generally rectangular configuration and consists of transversely disposed front and rear frame members in the form of angle bars 2 and 3 which are connected together at their ends by generally longitudinally disposed end bars or members l and 5. The front and rear frame members 2 and 3 are also connected together intermediate their ends, and intermediate supporting wheel means later to be described in detail, by braces or intermediate frame bars 6, l, 8, and 9. As best indicated in Figures 2 and 3, the

-2 by bolts 26 and 27.

rectangular frame l is normally disposed in a downwardly and forwardly inclined position.

The frame I is supported on two carrying wheels H and I2 disposed intermediate the ends of the frame and are journaled on short axles l3 and It. The axle I3 for the left hand wheel II is supported from the frame I by means of a pair of laterally spaced downwardly and forwardly converging supports l6 and I1 and by a second pair of laterally spaced rearwardly extending supports I8 and I9 disposed in a generally longitudinally extending plane. The downwardly and forwardly disposed supporting members l6 and H are connected at their upper ends to the rear frame member 3 by means of brackets 20. The brackets 20 are preferably secured to the rear frame member 3 by bolts 2| or the like, and the upper ends of the supporting members I6 and I! are secured to the brackets 20 by bolts 22 or the equivalent. posed and rearwardly extending members l8 and I9 constitute the two arms of a U-shaped member, the base portion or intermediate section 24 of which is connected to the front frame member The supporting means for the other carrying wheel l2 at the right hand end of the frame is preferably of the same construction.

The cultivating rigs are preferably pivotally connected with the front frame member 2, and in order to provide for the proper operation of the soil engaging tools, certain of the rigs are longer than others so that the tools are staggered. In the drawings, the short rigs are indicated by the reference numeral 30 and the long rigs are indicated by the reference numeral 3|. As best shown in Figure 1, each rig comprises, in general, two forwardly diverging beams 33 and 34 which are .pivotally connected to brackets 35, carried by the front frame member 2, by any suitable means, such as pivot bolts 36 and 31. Preferably, the brackets 35 are securely fixed to the frame member 2, as by means of rivets 38 or the like. Each of the rigs carries a soil working tool 39. The particular construction of the rigs so far described and the particular details thereof do not per se form a part of the present invention. Rigs of this type are disclosed and claimed in the c'opending application of John Schaeffer (case 3), Serial No. 635,158, filed September 28, 1932.

Mention was made above to the fact that the carrying wheels H and ii are set in from the ends of the frame so as to provide for the disposition of soil engaging tools laterally outside Preferably, the longitudinally dis- 4| which, as best shown in Figure 1, are disposed directly in rear of the wheels ii and I2, respece tively. The rig 40 comprises two beams 42 and 43 which extend forwardly between the downwardly disposed supporting members l5 and Iii, and the forward ends of the beams 42 and 48 are offset, as shown at 44 and 45, so as to dispose the end portions 48 and 41 of the beams i2 and 43 outside but adjacent to the generally iongitudinally and horizontally disposed wheel supports l8 and I9. In addition, as best shown in Figure 3, the front ends 48 and 49 of the beam sections 46 and 41 are bent downwardly and are pivotally connectedfor vertical swinging movement to the outer sidesof the members I8 and I9 by any suitable means, such as pivot bolts 50 and 5|. The right hand rig 4| is of substantially the same ccnstruction, andthe same reference numerals have been applied in Figure l. The rearwardly disposed rigs 40 and ell are also equipped with soil working tools 39. As is obvious, different forms of tools may be used as desired.

Suitable means for raising and lowering said rigs is provided, and preferably such means is so constructed and arranged as to hold the rigs in operative position. The raising and lowering means consists of a transverse rock shaft 55 journaled in bearings 56 supported in brackets 51 which are fixed to the rear frame member 3, as by rivets orthe like. The long and short cultivator rigs 3-3 and 3% are each connected with the rock shaft 55 by means of a rod 66 the lower end of which carries a pivot member 6| pivotally disposed between and connected with the two beams 33 and 34 of the rig, as best shown in Figure 2. A sleeve 62 is provided at the upper end of the rod 60 and is pivotally supported between the forked ends of a forwardly extending arm 63 fixedly secured to the rock shaft 55. The sieeve 62 is I slidable vertically along the rod 60, and to keep the sleeve 62 from coming oil the upper end of the rod, a collar 65 is mounted on the upper end of the rod 60 and securedirr place by a cotter pin 66. Each of the cultivator rigs 30 and 3| is connected to be raised and lowered thru the operation of the rock shaft 55 in the manner just described.

For each of the reerwardly disposed cultivator rigs 40 and 4|, two lirting arms are provided, one connected with each of the beams 42 and 43. In Figure 1, this pair or arms as indicated by the reference numerals e311 and 63b, and the outer ends of these arms are connected, respectively, with the beams 42 and 43 by rods 86a and 60b, the lower ends of these rods being pivotally con ,nected to the beams.

Each of the rods 50, 60a and 60b is embraced by a compression spring 54 which encircles the associated red and which bears at its lower end against the pivot member BI and at its upper end against the sleeve 62, it being understood the rods 60a and 60b carry similar sleeves. Leoking at Figure 2, when the rock shaft 55 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction, the cultivator rigs are iowered into operating position, the position shown in Figure 2, and are yieldingly urged through the compression of the springs 64 to the desired depth of operation. When the rock shaft 55 is rotated in the opposite direction, the sleeve 62 on each or the rods engages the collar 55 and raises the associated rig to its inoperative position.

To aid in raising the tools suitable counterbalancing springs are provided. In the preferred construction, as illustrated in Figure 1, there are two eounter balancing springs Ill, and each spring embraces a push rod 12 disposed in a perforation in a bracket 13. At the left hand end of the machine, thebracket I3 is carried on the intermediate brace member 6 while at the right hand end of the machine the bracket 13 is carried on the brace member 9. The rear end of each of the push rods 12 is pivotally connected to an arm 14 suitably fixed to the rock shaft 55. At one end the counter-balancing spring I0 bears against its associated bracket I3, and at the other end each spring bears against an adjustable abutment collar 15 fixed to the rear end of the rod 12. Thus, whenever the rigs 39, 3|, 4|! and 4| are lowered the springs 10 are compressed, so that when the rigs are raised the compression of the springs 10 aid in the raising operation. a

The mechanism for operating the rock shaft 55 to raise and lower the tools may be hand operated, but preferably, the shaft 55 is rocked by means of power derived from one of the support- -ing wheels. To this end, the right hand supporting or carrying wheel l2 has been provided with a sprocket 8| and has beenarranged to drive, through a drive chain 82, a sprocket 83 fixed to the laterally outer end of a transversely disposed shaft 84, the latter being journaled in bearings 85 mounted on the intermediate brace memrs 8 and 9. A sprocket 81 is mounted on the inner end of the transverse or jack shaft 84 and is ar- Preferably, the power lift clutch as is iournaled in bearings 9| and 92 mounted on iongitudlnaily disposedintermediate members 9 3 and 94 which.

are supported at their rear ends on the rear frame member .3 and, at their forward ends, are carried on a transverse frame member 95 supported on the generally longitudinally arranged draft frame 95. The power lift clutch includes a crank 51 operatively connected with the rock shaft 55 by means of a pitman 98 the rear end of which is connected to an arm 99 bymeans of a pivot bolt 99a. disposed in one of the holes 9% in the upper end of said arm, the lower end of the arm being suitably fixed to the rock shaft 55.

The forward end of. the pitman 58 is connected with the crank 91 by means of depth adjusting mechanism Hill of more or less conventional construction. A

The implement is propelled by means of the draft frame 96, which comprises rearwardly diverging angle members IM and I01 connected at their rear ends to the frame member 5 by means of bolts Ill-3 and m. The forward ends of the draft frame members "H and M2 are connected by means of straps I06 to a hitching bar it", as best shown in Figure 2. The hitching bar IN is disposed vertically and is provided with a number of openings so that the hitch clevis may be disposed in the line of draft. The lower end of the hitch bar I0! is braced to the members II and H12 by means of upwardly extending brace bars I08, and the hitch bar I01 isalsoconnected u with the front frame member 2 by a rearwardly disposed brace member I09.

Since the draft frame 56 is disposed in substantially horizontal position and since the frame I is in an inclined position, the rearmost ends of the bars HH and I02 are bent upwardly adjacent their attachment with the rear frame member 3, as best shown in Figure 3. This discloses the general plane of the draft frame 96 above the front frame member 2. However, the bars llll and H12 are connected with the front frame member 2 by means of standards Ill and H2. Also, the members HH and IE2 are braced in a lateral direction by means of cross braces H3, one of which is shown in Figure 1. The supporting member 95, mentioned above, is secured to the members lfll and I02 by means of bolts H4, and the depth adjusting mechanism I00 is controlled by means of a crank H6 supported by means of a bracket I I! carried at the forward ends of the members [M and I02, which also acts as a cross brace, cooperating with the cross braces H3.

-While I have described above the construction in which the principles of the present invention have been embodied, it is to be understood that my invention is not to be limited to the specific details shown and described, but that, in fact, widely difierent means may be employed in the practice of the broader aspects of my invention.

What I claim, therefore, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A cultivator comprising a rectangular frame, including, transversely extending front and rear frame members and generally longitudinally disposed end members connecting said transverse members, generally forwardly extending members connected at their rear ends to said rear frame member, generally rearwardly extending members connected at their forward ends to said front frame member, said forwardly and rearwardly extending members being disposed at an angle to the plane of said end members, ground engaging supporting means for said frame connected with the adjacent ends of said generally forwardly and rearwardly extending members, and a plurality of cultivator rigs disposed laterally inwardly and outwardly of said ground engaging supporting means and arranged in the stantially horizontal rearwardly extending members connected at their forward ends with said front frame member intermediate the ends thereof, said forwardly and rearwardly extending members being disposed at an angle to the plane of said end members and said front and rear frame members and spaced laterally an appreciable distance inwardly of said end members,

ground engaging supporting means for said frame disposed intermediate the ends of the latter and connected with the adjacent ends of said generally forwardly and rearwardly extending members, and cultivator rigs connected with said frame laterally outwardly of said ground engaging supporting means.

3. A cultivator comprising a rectangular frame, including transversely extending front and rear frame members, laterally spaced generally longitudinally extending supports connected to said frame members and disposed inwardly from the ends of said frame, supporting wheels for said frame journaled on said supports and a plurality of cultivator rigs connected at their forward ends with said frame and including one rig disposed rearwardly of each of said supporting wheels, each of said last named rigs being connected to said supports.

4. A cultivator comprising a rectangular frame, including transversely extending front and rear frame members and generally longitudinally disposed end members connecting said transverse members, generally forwardly extending members connected at their rear ends to said rear frame member, generally rearwardly extending members connected at their forward ends to said front frame member, ground engaging supporting means for said frame connected with the adjacent ends of said generally forwardly and rearwardly extending members, soil engaging tools connected with said front frame member and disposed laterally inwardly and outwardly of said ground engaging supporting means, and other soil engaging tools disposed rearwardly of said supporting means and connected with certain of said generally forwardly and rearwardly extending members.

5. A cultivator comprising a rectangular frame, including transversely extending front and rear frame members and generally longitudinally disposed end members connecting said transverse members, generally forwardly extending members connected at their rear ends to said rear frame member, generally rearwardly extending members connected at their forward ends to said front frame member, supporting wheel means for said frame connected with the adjacent ends of said generally forwardly and rearwardly extending members, soil engaging tools connected at their forward ends to said front frame member and disposed laterally inwardly and outwardly of said supporting wheel means, and other soil engaging tools disposed rearwardly of said supporting means and including laterally spaced bars embracing said wheel means and connected with certain of said generally forwardly and rearwardly extending members.

6. A cultivator comprising a downwardly and forwardly inclined rectangular frame, including transversely extending front and rear frame members, two pairs of laterally spaced downwardly extending wheel supports connected to the rear frame member and disposed inwardly from the ends of said frame, a wheel axle disposed between the two supports of each pair, a longitudinally extending support disposed between the lower end of each downwardly extending support and the front frame member, a carrying wheel mounted on each axle, a series of cultivator rigs pivotally connected to the front frame member, means disposed on the rear frame member for raising and lowering said cultivator rigs, another cultivator rig disposed directly in rear of each of said supporting wheels and having forwardly extending beams disposed on opposite sides of the supporting wheel and extending between the downwardly extending supports of the supporting wheel and pivotally; connected to the two associated longitudinally extending supports, and a connection between the latter rigs and the raising and lowering means,

"I. A cultivator comprising a rectangular frame, including transversely extending front and rear frame members and generally longitudinally disposed end members connecting said transverse members, generally forwardly extending members connected at their rear ends to said rear frame member intermediate the ends of the latter, generally rearwardly extending members connected at their forward ends to said front frame member intermediate the ends thereof, said forwardly and rearwardly extending members being disposed at an angle to the plane of said transverse and end members, supporting "wheel means for said frame connected'with the adjacent ends of said generally forwardly and rearwardly extending members, intermediate bars connected with said front and rear transverse members and disposed intermediate said supporting wheel means, a transverse shaft journaled on certain of said intermediate bars, means for driving said shaft from one of said supporting wheel means, power lift mechanism operatively connected with the other end of said transverse shaft, a series of cultivator rigs pivotally connected to the front frame member, means disposed on the rear frame member for raising and lowering said cultivator rigs, and means for driving said last named means from said power lift mechanism.

8. A cultivator comprising a downwardly and forwardly inclined rectangular frame, including transversely extending front and rear frame members, two pairs of laterally spaced downwardly extending wheel supports connected to the rear frame member and disposed inwardly from the ends of said frame, a wheel axle disposed between the two supports of each pair, a longitudinally extending support disposed between the lower end of each downwardly extending support and the front frame member, a carrying wheel mounted on each axle, a series of cultivator rigs pivotally connected to the front frame member, means including a transverse rock shaft rotatably mounted on the rear frame member for raising and lowering said cultivator rigs relative to said frame and its carrying wheels, and means including a power lift mechanism operated from one of said carrying wheels for actuating said rock shaft.

9. A cultivator comprising a downwardly and forwardly inclined rectangular frame, including transversely extending front and rear frame members, two pairs of laterally spaced downwardly extending wheel supports connected to the rear frame member and disposed inwardly from the ends of said frame, a wheel axle disposed between the two supports of each pair, a longitudinally extending support disposed between the lower end of each downwardly extending support and the front frame member, a carrying wheel mounted on each axle, a series of cultivator rigs pivotally connected to the front frame member, a rock shaft journaled on the rear frame member and operatively connected with said cultivator rigs for raising and lowering the same, a transverse shaft journaled for rotation on said rectangular frame and having its laterally outer end operatively connected to be driven by one of said carrying wheels, a draft frame comprising generally longitudinally extending bars connected at their rear ends with said rear frame member, means connecting said bars with said front frame member, and power lift mechanism including parts carried by said draft frame and operatively connected to be driven from the laterally innerendof said transverse shaft and operative to actuate saidrock shaft for raising and lowering said cultivator rigs.

10. A cultivator comprising a downwardly and forwardly inclined rectangular frame, including transversely extending front and rear frame members, two pairs of laterally spaced downwardly extending wheel supports connected to the rear frame member and disposed inwardly from the ends of said frame, a wheel axle disposed between the two supports of each pair, a longitudinally extending support disposed between the lower end of each downwardly extending support and the front frame member, a carrying wheel mounted on each axle, a seriesof cultivator rigs pivotally connected to the front frame member, a plurality of intermediate frame bars connecting said front and rear frame members and disposed adjacent the wheel supports secured thereto, means including a rock shaft journaled on the rear frame member for raising and lowering said rigs, and spring means carried by said intermediate bars and connected with said rock shaft to aid in raising said rigs.

11. A cultivator comprising a rectangular frame, including transversely extending front and rear frame members and generally longitudinally disposed end members connecting said transverse members, generally forwardly extending members connected at their rear ends to said rear frame member, generally rearwardly extending members connected at their forward ends to said front frame member, ground engaging supporting means for said frame connected with the adjacent ends of said generally forwardly and rearwardly extending members, said supporting means being disposed within said rectangular frame member and laterally inwardly of the end members thereof, soil engaging tools connected with said front frame member and disposed laterally inwardly and outwardb of said ground engaging supporting means, and soil engaging tools connected with said rearwardly extending members.

12. A cultivator comprising a rectangular frame, including transversely extending front and rear frame members and generally longitudinally disposed end members connecting said transverse members, generally forwardly extending members connected at their rear ends to said rear frame member, generally rearwardly extending members connected at their forward ends to said front frame member, supporting wheel means for said frame connected with the adjacent ends of said generally forwardly and rearwardly extending members, soil engaging tools connected at their forward ends to said front frame member and disposed laterally'inwardly and outwardly of said supporting wheel means, and other soil engaging tools disposed rearwardly of said supporting means and including laterally spaced bars embracing said wheel means and connected to react against said rearwardly extending members.

13. An agricultural implement comprising a frame having front and rear frame members, generally forwardly and downwardly extending members connected at their rear ends to said rear frame member, generally rearwardly extending members connected at their forward ends to said front frame member, said forwardly and rearwardly extending members being disposed at an angle to the plane of said frame, ground engaging supporting means for said frame connected with the adjacent ends of said generally forwardly and rearwardly extending members, and an operating unit disposed directly in rear of each of said supporting means and having forwardly extending members disposed on opposite sides of the supporting means and extending between the downwardly and forwardly extending members and pivotally connected with the associated rearwardly extending members.

14. A cultivator comprising a frame having front and rear transverse frame members, intermediate downwardly and forwardly extending frame bars connected with said front and rear transverse members, a draft frame consisting of a pair of generally longitudinally extending draft members connected at their rear ends with said rear transverse frame member and disposed substantially horizontally, generally upwardly extending standards connecting the front transverse memher with said longitudinally extending draft members, and ground engaging supporting means disposed inwardly of the ends of said front and rear frame members.

15. A cultivator comprising a frame having front and rear transverse frame members, in-

termediate downwardly and forwardly extending frame bars connected with said front and rear transverse members, supporting wheel means for said frame disposed laterally inwardly of the ends thereof and having an axis of rotation below said intermediate frame bars, a draft frame consisting of a pair of generally longitudinally extending draft members connected at their rear ends with said rear transverse frame member, power lift mechanism operatively connected with at least one of said supporting wheel means and including a transverse shaft journaled on certain of said intermediate frame bars for rotation about an axis disposed below said draft members and above said intermediate frame bars, a series of cultivator rigs pivotally connected to the front frame member, means disposed on the rear frame member for raising and lowering said cultivator rigs, and means for driving said last named means from said power lift mechanism.

16. A cultivator having a forwardly inclined frame comprising a front member and a rear member connected by longitudinally extending members, carrying wheels for said frame, a plurality of cultivator rigs connected with said frame, a draft beam comprising forwardly converging members and connected at their rear ends to the rear member and to the front member by means of upwardly extending supports, the draft members being connected together adjacent the front member by a connecting member, a transverse shaft journaled on certain of the longitudinally extending members and operated from one of the carrying wheels, a power lift clutch supported on longitudinal members connected at their rear ends to the rear transverse member and at their front ends to the connecting member, and a rock shaft journaled on the rear frame member and actuated by said clutch for lifting the rigs.

1'7. A cultivator comprising a frame having front and rear transverse frame members, inter-,

medate downwardly and forwardly extending frame bars connected with said front and rear transverse members, a draft frame consisting of a pair of generally longitudinally extending draft members connected at their rear ends with said rear transverse frame member and disposed substantially horizontally, generally upwardly extending standards cennecting the front transverse member with said longitudinally extending draft members, ground engaging supporting means disposed inwardly of the ends of said front and rear frame members, a plurality of cultivator rigs operatively connected with said frame and disposed both laterally inwardly and outwardly of said ground engaging supporting wheels, power lift mechanism supported on the rear portions of said draft members and operatively connected with said cultivator rigs for raising and lowering the same, and means for driving said power lift mechanism from one of said ground engaging supporting means.

18. A cultivator comprising a frame having front and rear transverse frame members, intermediate downwardly and forwardly extending frame bars connected with said front and rear transverse members, a draft frame consisting of a pair of generally longitudinally extending draft members having their rear ends bent upwardly and connected with said rear transverse frame member, the forward portion of said draft frame being disposed substantially horizontally, generally upwardly extending standards connecting the front transverse member with said longitudinally extending draft members, ground engaging supporting means disposed inwardly of the ends of said front and rear frame members, power lift mechanism operatively connected to be driven by one of said ground engaging supporting means, a plurality of cultivator rigs connected with said frame and raised and lowered by said power lift mechanism, and means for supporting said mechanism comprising a pair of generally longitudinally extending supporting members connected; at their rear ends with said rear transverse frame member and having their forward ends bent downwardly and connected with said generally longitudinally extending draft members.

THEODORE ERDMAN. 

